Vending machine



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No). 3 1925- E. M. JONES ET AL VENDING MACHINE 1920 7 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 13

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Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,560,242 PATENT OFFICE.A

ELHEB H. JONES AND SUI? WALKER VANCE, 0F ATLANTA, GEORGIA; SAID VANCE ASSIGNO'R TO SAID J ONES.

VENDING MACHINE.

Application filed September 13 1920. Serial No. 409,808.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELMER, M. J ones and SUE WALKER VANCE, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vending Machines, of which the followin is a full, clear, and exact description, re erence being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to vending maof receiving any size of bottle and thatthe receptacle may receive more issued from the dispensing machme. In some. machines the empty bottle is ada ted to be returned to a compartment from w ich a filled container is issued. In these machines there is only one outlet controlled by the coin mechamsm, wherefore, access to the bottle compartment from which the bottle was taken is prevented as soon as a sub sequent urchase is made. Under such conditions, if a group of people patronizethe machine at the same time, taking out filled bottles before the contents of any are disosed of, then only one of the group will lie able to return lns empty container to one of these compartments. chasers are either left without-receiving a refund coin or must dispossess some subsequent purchaser of his'compartment.

One of the objects of our invention is to.

provide a construction which permits the return of an empty container lr respectlve of the conditionof the compartment in which it was reviously held.

Anot er object is the provision of means for permitting the return of a number of containers which is equal only to the number of containers issued.

Another object is to provide a vending machine which may comprise a 00-0 rating dispensing and purchasing unit 0 such a character that only containers having a pre-. determined size may be used therein.

Still another ob ect is to provide a con- Bottle dispensing bottles than are The other purstruction which facilitates the cooling of the liquid and decreases the time required for ing unit which may be separate from the refund unit, and we provide a check or coupon mechanism which co-operates with thedispension mechanism to: issue a check only upon the purchase of a filled container. In the refund compartment we provide co-operatin mechanism, the operatlon of which depen supon the physical characteristics of 0th the container and the co-operating check.

The above and other features will be more .fully hereinafter set forth in the following description, which relates to the drawings. The essential characteristics are set forth in the claims.

-In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a vending machine embodying the features of our invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical-section through the center of the machine; Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 4. is an elevation of a pedestal on which the individual compartments are positioned and in which the ice com artment is located;

Fig. 5 is a,longitudina section through the vending machine 'at a oint above the top of the ice compartment; i 6 is an enlar ed fragmentary section, of fiie'coin contro ed purchasing and check issuing mechanism;

ig. 7 is an enlarged plan partly in section of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6; Figs. 8 and 9 are details of mechanism employed in the coin controllin mechanism; Figs. 10, 11 and 12 representt ree positions of the coin after it passes through the controlling mechanism; Figs. 13 to 18 are details. of the mechanism shown in Figs. 10 to 12;Fig. 19 I is an elevation of the c eck issuing device;

Fig. 20 is a plan thereof; Fig. 21 is an elevation off'the purchasin compartment partly in section and inclu mg the container receiving mechanism; Fi 22 is a 'plan of the device shown. in Fig. 1; Fig. 23 is a side elevation showin the innermost osition of the container; Fig.24. is a plan 0 the mechanism when the container is in the position shown in Fi 23.- p

The. genera arrangement of our invention embodies a. vendin machine having, as

shown in'Fig.-1, a ase 10, a lower-receivside of the container, and comprising a check or coupon issuing mechanism which is automatically operated to issue a check upon receipt of a coin. The lower compartment 11 is provided with a container receiving device which is operable independently-of the coin control device on the upper compartment, and which is adapted to receive the bottle and check removed from the upper compartment. A doorway 14 in the lower compartment may be opened to remove the returned containers.

As shown in Fig. 2 the lower compartment 11 may comprise a hollow receptacle having suflicient volume to receive a great number of empty containers and may be constructed of wood or metal and be fixed at the base 10 by any suitable means. The upper compartment 12 resting on the top of the lower compartment is used as a refri erato-r and it is, therefore, advisable to insu ate the side and bottom walls by any heat insulating material 15. The interior portion of the upper compartment is encased by a water proof wall 16 ,to retain the water resulting rom the melting of the ice.

The filled container compartments are mounted on a pedestal having a base 20 which may be rigid with the base of the upper compartment. These compartments .preferably comprise receptacles having cylindrical walls 21 mounted on a base 19 and adapted to rotate above the base 20. The inner-portion of the cylindrical compartment is adapted to receive a block of ice andthe outer portion near the peripher there of is divided into a series of in ividual stalls or compartments by the radial walls 22. As shown in Fig. 5, the rotatable container compartment is mounted eccentrically of the receptacle 12 and is encased by a substantially cylindrical baffle plate 23 which extends upwardly from the floor 16 of the upper receptacle to a point intermediate the top and bottom of the radial walls 22. A wall 24 extends around the periphery of the rotating compartment and 00-0 crating with the radial wall 22, and the cy indrical wall 21 forms a pocket into which the filled co ber of' filled containers.

tainer is adapted :to be positioned.

The space withln the u per receptacle between the wallsand the aflle plate 23 may comprise a chamber for precooling a num- The bafiie late serves to protect the filled containers rom coming intocontact with the revoluble member, thereby eliminating any opportunity for jamming the containers into one of the cornersof the receptacles. As the ice melts, the cold water flows into the precooling space, either by flowing over the top of the baffle 23 or by flowing through apertures therethrough and is retained within the'receptacl'e until drained through the spigot 25.

The top of the receptacle 12 is provided with a removable cover havingthe top and bottom encasing layers 26, 27, together with a layer of heat insulating material 28 posi tioned intermediate the encasing sheets. The cover is adapted to extend across the top of the receptacle to facilitatethe placing of ice within the refrigerator and to place filled containers in the individual compartments. With such a construction it is possible to utilize a. block of ice which is more desirable than cracked ice. Such a cover also permits the accessibility for filling individual compartments, inasmuch as four or five bottles may be inserted at one time, no time being lostby the necessity of removing an empty bottle from the compartment. After filling, the cover may be re laced and locked by any suitable means.

aving thus set forth the mechanism for roviding individual compartments for fillmg the container, we now describe the coin controlled mechanism for permitting access to the container compartment.

In Fig. 1, the coin control mechanism in general is shown as mounted on a casting or base member 30 which may be secured to the exterior portion of the receptacle 12. An aperture 31 sufficient in size to permit the hand of a person to be inserted for removin a filled container is preferably positione at the center of the receptacle and adapted to register with one of the container compartments.

Referring now to Fig. 6,-a door 32 pivotally mounted on a shaft 33 is provided with a handle 34 for manual operation. The upper portion of the door 32 is adapted to abut the outer edge of a door frame 35 which surrounds the aperture 31, while the lower ortion comprises an arm 36 which straddl ds the housing 37 of a coin controlled mechanism. The shaft 33 on which the arm 36 is rigidly mounted is supported partly by the outer wall 38 of the housing 37 and partly by the wall of the base 30 and comprises, as shown in Fig. 9. two interengagmg members 40 and 41. The member 40 is free to rotate independently of the member 41, but there is a sitive interengaging means which upon t e insertion of a com would cause the two members to be rotated together.

The interengaging mechanism between the two rtions of the shaft 33 comprises a dog 42 w ich may be rigid with the shaft 40 and may have a step-like portion as at 43, on the periphery thereof,-together with an extended portion 44 which is apertured to receive. a connecting pin. A circular saddle-like member 45 is pivotally mounted on the dog 42 at 46 and is adapted to straddle the steplike portion thereof. Thissaddle may com prise a substantially U-shaped member hav ing the free ends pivoted at 46 with the curved end 47 adapted to fit over the innermost portion of the shoulder 48 on the dog 42. A spring 49 may be mounted on the extended portion 44 of the dog and be adapted to abut against the lower portion of the saddle and to constantly urge it outwardly from the shaft 33. p

The outward movement of the saddle is prevented by a tooth 50 on a pawl 51 which is pivotally mounted at 52 on the side wall of the housing 37, and which may be constantly urged against the outer curved periphery of the saddle by the spring 53. The spring 53 is adapted to be stronger than the spring 49, so that the saddle is normally held in' its lowermost position, that is adjacent the shaft 33. The tooth 50 on the pawl is providedwith an inclined face 54 and is adapted in its normal position to slide into a notch in a hollow disk 60. As shown in Fig. 9, the disk 60 may be rigidly secured to the shaft 41 and is, therefore, rotatable independently of the dog 42. In

Fig. 8 an enlarged fragmentary section shows the relation between the saddle and the disk.

A coin chute 61 is provided at the top portion of the housing 37 and the normal position of the dog and saddle is such that a coin normally falls into the receptacle, comprising the side walls of the saddle, and the step-like portion 43 of the dog. \Vlien the coin is in this position, as shown in Figs. 6 and 10, the pawl 51 is adapted to engage one of the notches 62 in the disk, and in this position any rotation of the shaft 40 will have noeifect upon rotation of the disk and, therefore, of the shaft 41. Whena coin is inserted within the saddle recep tacle, however, a rotation of the saddle causes theperiphery of the coin to engage the inclined face 54 and to force the pawl against the'tension of the spring 53 away from the notch 62 in the disk 60. Suitable projecting pins 63, however, are so positioned on the disk that as soon as the tooth is raised to clear the notch, a tip 64 on the saddle engages one of these pins and causes the disk to rotate with the saddle, while the tooth of the pawl rides on the outer cir-' cularperi hery of the disk.

The di erent positions of the coin are shown in Figs. 10, lland 12. In Fig. 11 the tooth is just ready to leave the disk, as the tip of the saddle is about to engage the pin 63, while in .Fig. 12-wh1ch last mentioned positionj'is effected by a quarter of a revolution of the door 32--the coin is shown as falling by gravity into a suitable receptacle, and the pawl 51 is shown as enupon the dog and saddle will also be re- .turned to the inormal position shown In Fig. 10.

On the inner end of the shaft 33 we provide a pinion 70, which is rigid with the shaft 41, and which is adapted to engage a gear 71 on the'bottom of the rotatable plate 19. which platecomprises a portion of the individual filled container compartment. Since the pinion and the disk 60 are both rigid with the shaft 41, any movement of the disk will produce rotation of the gear 71, and the movement is so arranged that a quarter revolution of the door 32, produces a movement of the gear which is sufiicient to bring another individual container compartment into registration with the aperture or doorway 31. When the handle returns to itsnormal position the disk 60 is prevented from moving because the tooth of the pawl engages a notch therein, whereupon any further opening of the door without the in- .sertion of a coin will have no effect whatever upon movement of the container compartment.

To prevent the insertion of a hand into the empty container and over the top thereof, we may provide a guide plate-not shownover the doorway and on the inside of the refrigerating receptacle. This guide may abut the upper and outer periphery of the radial partition walls and may be constructed of anylight sheet metal material.

To insure the proper return of a bottle used in our vending machine, we provide a check issuing mechanism which is operable by a coin control mechanism and which comprises a check reservoir .7 5 which may be mounted on the base 30 and may comprise an extension of the housing 37. As shown in Fig. 6 a series of superimposed checks 77 sitioned inside of the reservoir are hel therein by gravity. These checks may be metallic disks which are normally held within the receptacle and adapted to be ejected into the open compartment 78 upon operation of the coin control mechanism. The ejection. mechanism comprises a plate 7 9, which is referablyl a thin stri of metal wider and t inner t an the dis 77 and which isso positioned that normally the uppersurface of the plate 79 abuts the lower surface of the bottom-most disk. The end of the plate is apertured as at 80 to receive the bottonrdisk when the plate is moved-inwardly by the action of the impelling mechanism. This impelling mechanism comprises a ch 81 rigidly secured to the bottom of the p ate 79 and adapted to abut the periphery of a disk and the free end 82 of the clip may be bent-to provide :fm engaging shoulder 83 having an inclined ace. I

In normal position the shoulder 83 is held against the wall of a notch 62 by the action of a spring 84 and in this position the smooth top portion of the plate is in abutting engagement with the under side of the bottom-most check in the reservoir. Since the plate is slidably mounted within the housing 37, then any movement of the disk 60. will force the plate inwardly against the tension of the spring 84;, until the free end 82 of the clip 81 abuts and rides over a wedge-like portion 85 at the base of the coin chute 61. The clip being of flexible material moves away from the notch whereupon the spring 84 imparts a sudden movement to the ejector plate, thereby forcing the-lowermost disk into the open receptacle 78. As the disk is rotated the next notch again engages the shoulder 83 whereupon the ejecting mechanism is ready for the next operation. To prevent the removal of disks 77 we may provide a removable cap 86 which may be provided with any suitable locking means.

Having thus described and set forth the mode of. action of vending mechanism we will now describe the receiving or purchasing mechanism. In Fig. 1 the receiving mechanism is shown as secured to a base plate 90 which may be rigidly secured to the exterior part of the lower receptacle 11, and which may have a doorway through which the empty container is adapted to be inserted. In Fig. 21 an empty container is shown as entering the doorway, and in Fig. 23 a container is shown in the innermost position prior to the time of leaving the control 0 the operator. I e

The mechanism embodied in our invention for inserting a container in a receptacle comprises inwardly extending arms 92, one end of which may be. secured to the plate to form an integral part of the casting, while the other end may be braced by rods-not shown-secured to the interior part of the receptacle. These inwardly projecting arms constitute the guides fora sliding carriage on which the container is adapted to be positioned. This carriage referably comprises a pair of slide mem ers 93 adapted to move in the slideway 94 and the guide arms 92.-

On the outer end of the carriage we provide a yielding base plate 95 wh1ch is slidmounted on the outer end 96 of the ab] slides 93. We prefer to provide reduced portion of the slide members to form the end ortions 96, thereby formin the shoul are 97 against which the base p ate is constantly urged by the springs 98. A suitable end plate 99 connects the ends of the rods 96' and serves as a stop for the springs 98, and a handle 100 may be rigid with the end plate 99 to manually reciprocate the carriage. The inner end of the carriage is connected by the cross member 101 on which is mounted a block 102 which, co-operating with the base plate 95, serves to suspend the the knob 103 and the base plate is pulled back against the tension of the spring 98, whereupon the base of the container is insertedin the recess 104. When the base plate is released the springs force it into abutting engagement with the base of the container thereby holding it suspended above the uide plates 93. The carriage would then. e pushed into the receptacle 11 by manual force exerted on the handle 100. When the carriage is urged inwardly the container is held as above described until the base plate 95 strikes-the stop block 105, which may be rigid with the guide arms 92. A further pressure on the handle 100 causes the guides 93 to move away from the base plate 95, thereby releasing the container and allowing it to drop into the receptacle. The stop block 105 may be dispensed with, and the exterior face of the base plate 90 may be utilized as an abutting surface for the base plate, but since it is desirable to retain the container in suspended position until it is entirely within the receptacle 11 we find it expedient to position the stop-block within the wall in the receiving receptacle.

en a container of the correct size' s inserted within a receptacle a coin is refunded to the operator, and the mechanism for returnin this coin will now be described. W en the container is released from the carria e it falls into a basket 106, which is pivotal y mounted at 107 below the guides 92 and transversely thereof. This lpivot or shaft 107 is preferabl sup orted y brackets 108 and is rigid with the hasket 106. One end 109 of the shaft is adapted to extend through and beyond the supporting bracket 108 and be rigidly secured to the arm 110, the upper end of which is adapted to move in a slot 111, in the ejector bar 112. The ejector plate may have one end thereof slidably mounted in a standard 113, which is secured to the inner end of the guide 92, while the other end of the plate is adapted to move through a slot 114 in the base plate 90. The spring 115, rigid with the standard 113, may serve to constantly urge the ejector plate inwardly and away from the base plate 90, while another spring--not shown-may be attached to the arm 110 to hold it normally .in its rearmost position, thereby holding tainer issued from the dispensing compartment, we provide a container selecting mechanism which is adapted to co-operate with the carriage and is provided with locking mechanism which may be opened only upon the insertion of a container having a predetermined contour. This selectin mechanism comprises a finger 116, whic is pivotally mounted. at 117, on a lug 118', extending outwardly from the side of one of the guides 92. The end of the finger may be bent inwardly as at 117 and be rounded-to slidably engage the-contour of the bottle as it is moved inwardly into the carriage. A spring, (not shown), associated with the spindle 117' ma beemployed for acting on the finger 116 or urging the end 117 thereof into engagement with the container. The innermost end of the finger,

as shown in Fi 22, is adapted to receive a bar 118 and slidabl mounted therein. The bar 118 is slida 1y supported on the inner end of the guides 92 and is provided with an aperture 119 in which an irregular member or horn 120 is, ada ted. to

move. This horn may be a plate w ich is secured ,to the transverse bracket. 101 on the inner end of the carriage and which is adapted to be moved therewith. The end of the horn which passes throughthe notch 119 of the slide bar is provided with a series of shoulders 121 and inclined faces 122 which are determined by the contour of the container. When the carria e is in its outermost position the-end 11 of the pivoted finger 1s adapted to ride against the side of the block 102 and on aline with the axis of the container. As the carriage is moved inwardly the bent contour. of the neo of the container and therebymoves the slide bar 118 in the opposite direction. The shoulders on the end of the horn are so positioned that when the contact finger 116'is moved by the'container, the aperture 119 of the slide bar is moved a sufficient distance to clear the'shoulders thereby allowing the horn Ito pass through the slide bar. Itis clear thatlso longas the'slide bar is moved in accordance with free passa e of the horn theret physical characteristics.

ortion 117 follows the when inserted a to completely-fill the recess 131, thereby bridgin'g the gap over thesurfaceiof the the contour of the bottle the horn will pass unobstructedly through the notch therein. Obviously should a bottle that is not of the proper shape and diameter be introduced in- ,to the. receptacle the movement of the cross slide will be such that the horn is looked against the slide bar, thereby preventing V further movement of the carriage.

The operation of the protective mechanism just described is obviously dependent upon the size and shape of the bottle placed on the carriage. For example, in Fig. 22, the finger 116 is shown in contact with the block 102 in which position, the aperture in the bar 118 is suchas to permit the horn to be moved inwardly as far as the nearest shoulder 122.. When the horn has been moved thus far, then the end of the finger is forced inwardly to engage the neck of the bottle whereupon the aperture in the rod 118 is movedlaterally so that the shoulder size of neck and shape of dy is placed ottle having an improper I on the carriage, then the bar would not be movedat the proper. times to plermig 1 the oug . The mec anism just described insures the return of a container having the proper size to the receptacle; but to prevent the return of a greater number of containers than were issued by the dispensing mechanism, we provide .a check receiving mechanismwhich co-operates with the check issued b the coin controlled mechanism. The' chec receiving device is so. arranged with relatron to the container carriage, that the carriage is operable only, upon the insertion of a check having; the proper predetermined In Fi .22 an apron or plate 130-is shown as rigid y secured to the outerend of the Sllde 93. This late is recessed as-at 131' to receive a dis 132 which, as shown in F1g.\21, 1s rovided with a downwardly projecting pm 133, and -may be. provided with upwardlyv projecting pins 134; this disk 132 is slidably mounted within the recess 131. The projecting ins 134 are so posit oned'that the check 7 issued by the above described check. mechanism may be inserted. within this recess over the dis having apertures which corre nd to the ms 134. The ssued check,

position of the H ve the disk 132, is adapted check to apron 130. Obviously it is possible to have any number of combinations of projecting pins withcorresponding openings in the prevent the interchangeability of the check I Referring now to Fig. 21, it will be seen that we have provided two loosely hung fingers 135 and 136, which are pivotally mounted at 137 on a shaft or pin supported by the side walls of the receptacle 116. The finger 135 is adapted to ride over the disk 132 when a check is inserted in the re cess; and to drop into the recess to prevent further inward movement of the carriage when the carriage is operated without ins serting a check. This insures the necessity of having a check of the proper thickness to operate the receiving carriage.

As the apron 130 moves inwardly the bot: tom projecting pin 133 engages an inclined face 138, thereby forcing the disk 132 upwardly and allowing the check to extend above the upper surface of the plate 130. As the check passes under the end of the finger 136 it is lifted by the disk so that when the carriage is again drawn out the check is forced over the plate by the finger 136 and allowed to fall into either the empty bottle drawer or any suitable receptacles. This finger 136 is somewhat wider than the disk 132 so as to ride over it on the return movement; and .the pins 134 are low enough to pass under the finger 136 when the disk 132 is in raised position. In Fig. 23 we have shown a view of the carriage with the check above the normal position and ready to be lifted from its seat by the finger 136 on the return movement of the carriage.

The operation of our vending machine is as follows Assuming that the containers are inserted in a refrigerating compartment, then an operator inserts a coin into the chute 61 and grasps the handle'34 of the door 32 and rotates the door a quarter of a revolution to the right. This rotation of the door causes the outer ortion 40.0f the shaft 33 to r0- tate, thereby moving the saddle 45, and the coin, downwardly to the right.

When the periphery of the coin passes the tooth of the pawl 51 the tip 64 of the saddle engages the pin 63, thereby causing the disk to rotate. The disk 60 being rigid with the portion 41, of the shaft 33, rotates the pinion which causes the gear 71 on the ase of the individual container compart. ment to rotate, and to bring a filled container into registration with the doorway 31.

When'the disk 60 rotates it moves the clip 81 to the right, thereby moving the ejector plate 79in the same-direction. As soon as the inclined face of the cli 82 reaches the stationary wed e-like mem er 85, the, clip is released and t e ejector plate is pulled back to its normal position by the spring 84 and contents in the container at leisure.

in doing so it ejects a check in the reservoir 7 5 into the open receptacle 7 8. The operator then removes the filled container with the check and is at liberty to dispose of the 70 After the contents in the container is disposed of the operator then proceeds to the receiving mechanism which may be inte a1 with the housing of the dispensing mac ine or may be a separated compartment entirely. The operator grasps the handle 100 on the 'receiving' carriage and pulls the carriage outwardly as far as it will go; he then inserts the container between the block 102 and the base plate 104 and places the check, which he receives from the dispensing mechanism, into the recess 131 in the plate 130, He then pushes the carriage inwardly, whereupon the check is removed by the finger 136, while the bottle passes, through virtue of the co-operating selecting mechanism, into the interior of the receptacle and is released. As the container is released it strikes the basket 106 which, due to the weight of the container, is forced downwardly. The arm 110, being rigid with the shaft 107, on which the basket is carried, moves forwardly as the basket moves downwardly, and carries the ejector arm 112 for wardly therewith.

The outer end of the ejector arm pushes the lowermost coin from a suitable coin reservoir into thee'xterior receptacle 116', whereupon the operator takes the refunded coin in exchange for the empty container.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that we have provided a vending machine which is adapted to issue a definite number of filled containers and a definite number of checks or coupons, both of which 105 are under the control of a coin operated device. We have provided a receiving or purchasing mechanim adapted to receive containers having. the physical characteris-* tics of containers issued by the dispensing 110 mechanism and which is operable only upon presentation of the proper size container, together with presentation of issued checks or coupons. It will be see further that we have provided. a vending'machine which is adapted to receive only a limited number of containers, thereby preventing the in sertion of other containers having a con- -tour similar in form to the issued container;

rovided a mechanlsm whlch 120 ingmechanism associated with said receiviw in means, a check receiving means cooperating with said container receiving mecha-' nism, whereby a container having only physical characteristics similar to those issued by the dispensing mechanism may be,

admitted into the receiving means, only upon presentation of a check issued by said check ejecting mechanism, and refund mechanism operated by the container after the actuation of the check receiving means and the container receiving mechanism.

2. In combination, a coin controlled container and check ejecting mechanism, a receptacle, means for receiving a container and check issued by said mechanism, said receiving means being operable only when a check and container are simultaneously moved into the receptacle, and refund mechanism actuated by said container upon operation of said means.

3. In combination a two part housing comprising separated sections, a coin controlled container vending and check ejecting mechanism carried by one of the sections, a container and check receiving means carried by the other of said sections, said receiving means being operableonly upon presentation of a check and container having the same physical characteristics as the check and container issued by said mechanism, and refund mechanism actuated by said container upon operation of the receiving means.

4. In combination, a housing comprising a support for a filled container, dispensing mechanism, an empty container receiver mechanism, a check ejecting mechanism adapted to cooperate with the dispensing means upon the issuance of a container, a

.check receiving mechanism, cooperating with the receiving mechanism and adapted to be operable only upon presentation of a container and check similar to those issued by the said dispensing and ejecting mechaand refund means actuated by said container upon operation of the container and-check receiving mechanism.

5. In a vending machine, the combination with a coin c0 trolled container, dispensing mechanism, a c eck ejecting means operable by said dispensing mechanism, receiving mechanism operable only by a container and check having physical c aracteristics the same as the container and check issued by the dispensing mechanism and ejecting mechanism respectively, and means operable by said container after the actuation of the receiving mechanism for refunding a coin.

6. In combination, a closed receptacle, a

partition intermediate the ends thereof adapted to divide the receptacle into two compartments means in one of the comartments comprising a container dis ried by the other compartment and adapted ried by ns- 7 ing mechanism, a check ejector operab e by said mechanism, a receiving mechanism car--.

guide to receive a check and a container, said last mentioned mechanism being operable only upon presentation of a container and check having physical characteristics the same as those issued by said check and container dis-' pensing mechanism respectively, and refund means actuated by said container only upon operation of the receiving mechanism.

7 In a vending machine, the combination with a base of a receptacle ositioned thereupon presentation only of a container and a check issued by said container and check issuing mechanism. I

8. In a vending machine, the combination with a base of a receptacle positioned thereon, a partition adapted to separate the receptacle into upper and lower compartments, a container and a check dispensing mechanism carried by'the upper compartment, a doorway through the wall of the upper compartment, a pivoted door therefor, coin controlled means whereby movement of the door causes a check to be issued and permits a container to be removed, a container receiving mechanism carried by the lower compartment, said last mentioned mechanism being operable only by means of said check and container, and refund means actuated 10. In combination, a wall of a receptacle, separated guide bars extending therefrom, a carriage comprising an open frame movable on said bars, yielding means carthe frame for holding a container in' suspension, at stop block for abutting the yielding means whereby the container may; be released, other means for allowing actuation of thereleas'eLonly when a container .having the proper size is positioned in the carriage, and refund mechanism actuated by the container and upon operation of the last Qmentioned means.

,11. In combination, a pair of separated members, an open frame slidable frame, a projection on the block, said projection being adapted to cooperate with-the recess to hold. a container, a stop block on the guides for abutting said base plate, means associated with the carriage for. allowing inward motion thereof only when containers having certainpredetermined physical characteristics are placed therein, and refund mechanism adapted to be actuated by said container on operation of said means.

12. In combination, a check 1 receiving mechanism comprising a carriage adapted to receive 'a container, a pivot plate adapted to be engaged by a falling container, refund mechanism including an arm connected withthe plate, an ejector rod movable by said arm whereby a downward movement of the container causes a sliding movement of the ejector rod, and means operable to prevent release of an improperly shaped container,

13. In combination, a guideway, a carriage movable therein said carriage being adapted to support a container, a plate pivoted beneath the guideway and adapted to be actuated by a falling container refund mechanism including an ejector rod, means connecting theplate with said rod and a select,- ing mechanism operable to prevent release of an improperly shaped container from said carriage.

14. In combination a carriage adapted to receive and hold a container therein, arece tacle, a pivoted plate adapted to receive said container,'means for holding said plate normally in horizontal position, said plate being operable by the Weight of the container to turn on its pivot and allow the container to slide into said receptacle, means 7 for releasing said container from the carriage for allowing it to be deposited-on said plate, means for preventing such release when a container of improper size is held within the carriage, and refund mechanism actuated by said container upon operation of said plate.;.

15. In combination, aslidable carriage having means for holding a container therein, means for releasing said container in one position of the carriage, a U shaped pivoted member beneath the. releasing position of said carriage, a receptacle beneath said pivoted member, said member able on its pivot by the weight of a container to deposit the container within said receptacle, means comprising a finger adapt-' ed t contact with the side of the. container while in the carriage and operable to pre-- vent motion of the carriage into releasing osition when a container of improper size s held therein,

. ing a container within the carriage,

eing movand refund mechanism actu-.

ated by said container upon operation of said member.

- 16. In combination, guideways, a carriage slidable therein, yielding. means for holda finger adapted to be moved by the contour of the container, a rod movable by said finger, means carried by the carriage and slidable within said rod whereby the contour of the container permits the carriage to pass along the guideways, and refund mechanism adapted to be actuated by the container and upon release of the yielding means.

17. In combination, a carriage adapted to support a container, a guideway for said carriage, a finger adapted to abut one side of the container cooperating means operable by the carriage and finger for permitting a movement -of the carriage, and refund mechanism adapted to be actuated by said container only-after the carriage has moved a predetermined distance. L

18. In combination, a guideway, means'for moving a container along the guideway, a finger adapted to be moved by contact with the container, 7 a rod connected with the finger, means actuated by movement of the container for cooperating'with the rod, said means embodying a locking device whereby only a container having a predetermined size may be moved along the guideway, and

mits said member to pass through the rod,-

and refund mechanism adapted to be actuated by the container after the finger has moved. a predetermined distance through said rod. I

20; In combination, a guideway, means for moving a container along the guideway, a notched member actuated by movement of thecontainer, a rodhaving an aperture therein adapted to receive said member,- -means in contact with the container for moving said rod whereby the member is" permitted to pass through the rod a nd re fund mechanism adapted to be actuatedl-by the container after the member has rmoved a predetermined distance through said rod.

. 21. A container receiving inechanism,com-

prising a guideway, acarriage adaptedto receivev a container, a. plate carried by the carriage and adapted to receive a check,

meansdisposed in the path of the plate to prevent the movementithereof, means for ejecting a coin upon release of the container and means operable by the container for permittingmovement thereof along the guideway, only when containers having certain predetermined physical characteristics are placed 'within'the carriage.

22.v In j combination, a rece acheck receiving device operable wit said means, pivoted fingers disposed-in the path; of the check receivingflmeans whereby the receiving means is movable only upon presentation, of a predetermined check, an eject-- tor plate,1ne'ansfor moving 'fthe plate for ejecting a coin upon release of! the container and mechan sm compr singa locking device operable by the'contal nerwhereby onlycontaincrs having predetermined size; may be inserted within the; receptacle.

as. In combination,-a -check, erece tacie,

means for moving the check, and container,

into said receptacle, mechanism for permit ting the' niovement of saidmea'ns only upon presentation 'of a predetermined check and containerg-fsaid mechanismcomprising a finger interposed @within the path of; the check, a 'lockingdevice operable by the body of the container fand'refund-mechanism ac tuated by theg container after simultaneous presentation of j 'saidcheck andE-Ycontainer into said receptacle. I

24. In fcomb'nation a check, a receptacle, a-carriagefor moving a check and a container "simultaneously into said receptacle, means fol permitting the movement of-the carriage onlyjffi iponfl. presentation of a predetermined container and check, said mechanism comprisin (a-locking device having one member movab elongitudinally by the car-. riage and the other member movable laterally by the container," and refund mechanism adapted to be actuated by said container after the carriage has been moved a predetermined distance into the receptacle.

, a we s, for moving a container into t e rece tacle,

' 25. In combination, a check, a receptacle,

' a carriage for moving a check and a con tamer s1multane0usly lnto said receptacle, inechanls'm for permlttlng the movement of the "carriage only upon presentation of a 26QIn combination, a

receiving n'lechanism, means for permitting 'n'1oven entofthe receiving mechan sm only npon'fpresentation of a certain container, 7 "said meanscomprlsing a locking device operable upon contact with awall of the container, andrefund means adapted to be ac- "tuatedby'said container upon o'perationof the receivingv mechanism. I 5' 27. In afmachine of the character de- =mechanism adapted to dispense an article I v "NCOIIUIIIIBI carrier, means ZfOY mOVIDg the carrier, a container scribed, the combination of'a coin controlled anda refund controller, and alrefund mecha-. V:

nisingo ernedby. the insertion ofsaid controller, to ether with an'article having a shape similar to the article issued, 28. In a machine for dis ensingj bottled goods, the combination wit a supply of r checks and refund coins','jof coin controlled mechanism foriissuing a bottle together with a check and mechanism for issuing one of said refund coins when .the check and a bottle having'fthefshape of; the issued bottle are inserted in said mechanism. i for issuing the refund coins. t

our signatures.

- mess I sun WALKER VANCE.

In testimony whereof afiix 

